Biodiesel plant burns in Mississippi

A Mississippi biodiesel plant continues to burn Wednesday. The fire is so hot firefighters cannot get close enough to extinguisht it. The plant makes biodiesel from cottonseed.

NEW ALBANY, Miss. (AP) — A fire at a biodiesel facility near New Albany was burning early Wednesday and was so hot that firefighters could not get close enough to fight it, the Mississippi Highway Patrol said.

The fire was reported about 5:30 a.m. Wednesday, Highway Patrol spokesman Trooper First Class Ronny Hall said. He said firefighters were letting it burn out.

“There were workers at the plant but it is unclear if there are any injuries,” Hall said. “Once the fire is out, investigators will get in there.”

Phil Nanney of Union County Development Association says officials are letting the fire, which appears close to the ground, burn.

The New Albany plant is North Mississippi Biodiesel, founded in 2007. It employs five and makes diesel fuel from cottonseed and other materials.

Hall said two businesses across the highway were evacuated as a precaution. There were no homes nearby.

The plant is located near New Albany on Mississippi Highway 15, which has been closed to traffic. Hall said the facility has up to six storage tanks that hold materials used in making biodiesel fuel.